Mormon missionaries, members brace for typhoon in Philippines

By Tad Walch , Deseret News

Published: Sunday, Aug. 2 2015 2:28 p.m. MDT

This Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Typhoon Haiyan over the Philippines, at 22:30 UTC (5:30 p.m. EST). Haiyan, the world's strongest typhoon of the year, slammed into the Philippines early Friday. It had been poised to be the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded at landfall, a weather expert said. (NOAA, Associated Press)

Before Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines tonight, LDS Church members and missionaries prepared for the second natural disaster in a month.

“If there is any concern about the safety of an area, we move our missionaries out of that area,” said Stephen B. Allen, Missionary Department managing director, in the release. “We’ve known about this storm for some time, and all mission presidents have moved missionaries to areas where they believe they can be adequately sheltered from the typhoon.” Church officials also prepared to assist affected communities.